Chelsea ‘make transfer enquiry for Christantus Uche’ months after he was signed from Spanish third tier for £400k
CHELSEA have enquired about Getafe sensation Christantus Uche ahead of the January transfer window, reports suggest.
Uche, 21, joined the LaLiga side from Spanish third-tier outfit Ceuta in July for a bargain €500,000 (£416,000) and has since taken the top flight by storm.
The versatile midfielder has started in all 10 league matches this season and even scored on his debut against Athletic Bilbao to save a point in a 1-1 draw for Jose Bordalas’ side.
According to Relevo, the Nigerian is already attracting interest ahead of the January transfer window.
And Chelsea are among Uche’s suitors as they are closely following his incredible development.
The same source claims the Blues have already enquired about the playmaker and discussed a potential deal.
It is understood that the ex-Nigeria youth international has an “affordable termination clause” on his contract, which runs until 2028.
Uche’s stunning rise has also caught the eye of his national team and thus a first ever senior Nigeria call-up is now imminent.
The versatile player, who can also play as a false nine, has turned a lot of heads in LaLiga this season despite having no experience at elite level before his move to the Coliseum.
Uche amassed a total of 36 appearances last term with Ceuta, where he also picked up two assists.
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The attacking midfielder quickly won over Bordalas and the rest of his team-mates.
And thus Uche is now fully focused on his new team, which has yet to kick into gear.
Getafe are currently 16th in the table after three losses and only one win in 10 matches.
Chelsea ratings vs Liverpool
By Ken Lawrence
LIVERPOOL held on to beat Chelsea 2-1 in a thriller as they moved to the top of the Premier League table.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring against his former club from the penalty spot after Levi Colwill tripped Curtis Jones in the box.
Chelsea went into the break trailing and it was nearly worse, only for VAR to overturn a second Liverpool penalty after Robert Sanchez’s lunge on Jones.
The Blues came out from the break flying and Nicolas Jackson equalised.
But they failed to hold on with star of the show Jones netting the winner just minutes later.
Here is how SunSport rated the Chelsea players at Anfield.
ROBERT SANCHEZ – 5
Survived a shocker of a challenge on Jones to not give away a pen and never convincing.
REECE JAMES – 6
Got through 53 minutes in first start since last December and will surely shake off the rust.
TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 5
Booked early on for clattering into Diogo Jota and no surprise was hooked for the second half.
LEVI COLWILL – 5
Got away with one challenge against a diving Salah but a no- challenge penalty after hacked on Jones.
MALO GUSTO – 7
Intelligent display and constant threat down the left flank in the first half especially.
MOISES CAICEDO – 5
At £105m and in Chelsea’s biggest test of the season was found badly wanting.
ROMEO LAVIA – 5
Got the nod over Enzo Fernandez from the start but failed to show any urgency.
NONI MADUEKE – 6
Always mobile and was productive playing as a right-sided attacker – giving Robertson a tough afternoon.
COLE PALMER – 5
Deployed in central midfield but struggled to show his star quality and blazed over a good chance just before the break.
JADON SANCHO – 4
Lacked any real spark and unsurprisingly hooked off at the start of the second half.
NICOLAS JACKSON – 7
Picked up a typically mouthy booking but the boy definitely has something – as his fine equaliser proved.
SUBS:
PEDRO NETO (for Sancho 46) – 6
Looked a whole lot livelier than the wide man he took over from.
BENOIT BADIASHILE (for Adarabioyo 53) – 6
Looked a lot steadier than the centre-back he replaced.
RENATO VEIGA (for James 53) – 5
Got stuck in and was booked.
ENZO FERNANDEZ (for Romeo Lavia) – 6
Worked diligently to use his passing to make an impact late on.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU (for Noni Madueke 76) – 5
Found it difficult to make his presence felt as the Reds dug in to win.